Shas Minister Eli Yishai asked former US President Jimmy Carter this week to convey a message to Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal when he meets with the arch-terrorist in Damascus on Friday, according to a report in Haaretz.
The Shas party chairman allegedly asked Carter during their meeting Monday to tell Mashaal he would like to arrange a meeting with him to discuss a prisoner exchange for the release of kidnapped IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Yishai reportedly told Haaretz that 'in order to redeem prisoners, he was prepared to meet with anyone who could help move things ahead, including Hamas leaders.'
According to the report, Carter's meeting with Yishai was held at the request of the former president and was arranged through the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.